bubble_chart Efficacy

Relieving dryness and moistening lung.

bubble_chart Indications

Pattern of warm dryness attacking the lung, headache, body heat, dry cough without phlegm, qi counterflow leading to panting, dry mouth and thirst, dry nose and throat, tongue without coating and dry, pulse weak, large, and rapid.

bubble_chart Formula Principles

This formula is suitable for the syndrome of warm dryness injuring the lung, with both qi and yin damaged. In autumn, the climate is dry, and dryness-heat damages the lung. Since the lung is related to the skin and body hair, symptoms such as headache and body heat occur. The lung is scorched by heat, leading to damage of both qi and yin, and the loss of its normal functions of clearing, descending, and moistening. Therefore, there is dry cough without phlegm, qi counterflow causing panting, dry throat, thirst, and dry nose. As stated in *Suwen·Zhizhenyao Da Lun*: "All qi congestion and depression belong to the lung." When lung qi fails to descend, there is fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm. The treatment should focus on clearing dryness-heat, nourishing qi and yin, and establishing a method to clear metal (lung) and protect the lung. In the formula, Mulberry Leaf is used in large quantities. It is light in nature and cold in property, clearing and dispersing dryness-heat from the lung, serving as the sovereign medicinal. Warm dryness invades the lung; warmth belongs to heat and should be cleared, while the domination of dryness causing dry symptoms should be moistened. Therefore, Gypsum is used, which is pungent, sweet, and cold, clearing lung heat; Ophiopogon Tuber is sweet and cold, nourishing yin and moistening the lung, both serving as minister medicinals. As stated in *Nan Jing·Chapter 14*: "To treat lung damage, benefit qi." Since the stomach earth is the mother of lung metal, Liquorice Root is used to strengthen earth to generate metal, and Ginseng is used to benefit stomach fluid and nourish lung qi. Hemp Seed and Donkey-hide Gelatin nourish yin and moisten the lung. When the lung is moistened, it regains its regulatory function. As stated in *Suwen·Cangqi Fashi Lun*: "The lung suffers from rising qi counterflow, so urgently use bitter substances to drain it." Therefore, Bitter Apricot Seed and loquat leaf, which are bitter, are used to descend and drain lung qi. All of the above serve as assistant medicinals. Liquorice Root also harmonizes the other medicinals, serving as the envoy. In this way, the dryness-heat in lung metal is cleared and dispersed, and the counterflow of lung qi is descended and regulated. Thus, the symptoms of dryness-heat damaging the lung are naturally resolved, and the formula is named "Qing Zao Jiu Fei" (Clear Dryness and Rescue the Lung). Since the syndrome of this formula is dryness-heat damaging the lung, it is not suitable to combine with bitter-cold medicinals such as Scutellaria and Coptis.

1. dryness-heat damaging lung.
2. dry cough without phlegm.
3. qi counterflow leading to panting.
4. dry tongue without coating.

bubble_chart Formula Modification

1. Excessive phlegm: Add Fritillaria Bulb and Trichosanthis Fruit.
2. Severe dry mouth: Add Coastal Glehnia Root and smallpox.
3. Sore throat: Add Scrophularia Root and Lonicera.
4. Hemoptysis: Add Biota and lalang grass rhizome.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Use with caution in cases of deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach.

bubble_chart Modern Application

This prescription is suitable for pneumonia, lung subcutaneous nodules, bronchial asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, lung qi swelling, lung cancer, urticaria, laryngitis, etc., which are characterized by dryness-heat obstructing the lungs and damage to both qi and yin. In clinical practice, it is also effective for the following diseases:

1. wind-warmth dryness-heat common cold or epidemic common cold: commonly seen in autumn and winter, patients present with headache, fever, dry throat and mouth, dry cough with little phlegm, red tongue with little moisture, and floating and thin pulse. In such cases, this prescription can be modified by removing Ginseng and Donkey-hide Gelatin, and adding Gardenia, Thunberg Fritillary Bulb, and Reed Rhizome; if there is high fever and thirst, increase the dosage of Gypsum and add Anemarrhena and Bamboo Leaf; for severe dryness of the mouth and nose, add Scrophularia Root and Mongolian Snakegourd Root to clear heat and promote fluid production.
2. Acute and chronic bronchitis due to wind-warmth dryness-heat damaging the lungs: for severe cough, add Fritillaria Bulb and Trichosanthis Fruit peel; for chest pain, add Curcuma Root; for chronic sexually transmitted disease patients with severe cough and wheezing, and lung moist rales, combine with Pepperweed and Jujube Lung-Draining Decoction.
3. Lung subcutaneous nodules due to deficiency of both qi and yin: for severe cough, add Fritillaria Bulb, Stemona Root, and Arisaema; for cavities, add Lily Bulb, Common Bletilla Tuber, and Chinese Caterpillar Fungus; for tidal fever, add Sweet Wormwood and Tortoise Carapace.
4. Loss of voice due to lung dryness and fluid damage, and dryness of the vocal tract: for those with wind-cold, add Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia Root; for obvious phlegm-heat, add Thunberg Fritillary Bulb, Platycodon Root, and Peucedanum; for sore throat, add Puff-Ball and Belamcanda Rhizome; for obvious excess heat, increase the dosage of Gypsum.
5. Diabetes with excessive dryness-heat and insufficient yin fluids: symptoms include excessive thirst, dry mouth and tongue, emaciation, or severe constipation. Treat with this prescription combined with Jade Lady Decoction.
6. Pediatric pneumonia due to lingering yin deficiency: symptoms include low fever, profuse sweating, dry cough with little phlegm, dry and peeled tongue, thin and rapid pulse, and deep purple fingerprints. Treat with this prescription with modifications.
7. This prescription with modifications can also be used to treat infantile aphtha, bronchial hemoptysis, acute tonsillitis, periodontitis, chronic pharyngitis, epistaxis, gingival hemorrhage, etc.